The day had been ordinary for Asher. Just a typical weekend, alone in his room, grinding through quests and exploration in Genshin Impact. He had played it so many times that he knew every corner of Teyvat. But today, something felt...different.

As the screen loaded, he felt a pull. A strange sensation washed over him as though he was being dragged into the game. He tried to stand up, but before he knew it, the room around him dissolved, and he was falling—through the sky, through clouds, through a strange, misty vortex.

When he opened his eyes again, he found himself lying in a field. Soft green grass stretched endlessly around him, and overhead, the sun shone gently, warming his face. He sat up slowly, rubbing his eyes.

"Wait...is this...Mondstadt?" Asher whispered in disbelief. Every detail matched perfectly—the landscape, the scent of nature, even the familiar distant mountains.

His thoughts were interrupted by a figure in the distance. A girl lay on the grass nearby, her blonde hair shining like threads of gold under the sunlight. She was dressed in a familiar outfit, one he knew too well from his countless hours playing the game. It was Lumine. She seemed unconscious, and from her tattered outfit, it looked like she'd been in a battle.

With his heart racing, he ran to her side. "Lumine!" he called out, hoping she'd respond.

At the sound of his voice, Lumine stirred, her eyes slowly fluttering open. They were as vibrant and mysterious as he had always imagined. She looked at him, first with confusion, then with curiosity.

"Who...are you?" she asked, sitting up with a bit of caution.

"Asher," he replied, barely believing his own words. "I'm...just someone who's been admiring you for a long time."

A soft laugh escaped her lips, and Asher could feel his cheeks turning red. He tried to collect himself, to play it cool. "I mean...not in a creepy way."

She chuckled. "I guess you're one of the few friendly faces I've met recently," she said, a hint of exhaustion in her voice. "I've been thrown here by a powerful sorceress. I barely managed to escape."

Asher's excitement was tempered by a surge of protectiveness. Seeing her vulnerable was surreal, yet it awakened something in him. "I won't let anyone hurt you," he promised, surprising himself with the sincerity in his tone.

Just then, a small, high-pitched voice interrupted them. "Hey! What's with all the mushy stuff? And who's this?"

It was Paimon, floating beside Lumine, eyeing Asher with suspicion. He smiled at her, though he couldn't help but remember all the fan theories he'd read online—particularly the one where some fans speculated that Paimon was secretly the main villain. He chuckled to himself, wondering if there was any truth to that theory.

"What are you laughing at?" Paimon demanded, crossing her arms.

"Oh, nothing," he replied, shaking his head, but in his mind, he made a note to keep an eye on her.

Lumine stood up, brushing herself off. "If you're from this world, Asher, maybe you could help us. I'm looking for someone, my brother. But this world...it's far more complicated than I anticipated."

"Anything for you," he said, hoping she wouldn't notice the sincerity that colored his voice.

Suddenly, they heard a rustling in the bushes. A girl with a bow and a bright red outfit stepped forward, her amber eyes sharp as she scanned the area. "Lumine! Paimon! Are you okay?" she called out.

Asher knew her right away—it was Amber, the Outrider. She noticed Asher, her eyes narrowing slightly. "And who's this?"

Lumine introduced him, and Amber gave him a curious smile. "Well, any friend of Lumine's is a friend of mine. Just don't go causing any trouble, alright?"

Asher nodded, sensing Amber's unspoken caution. Though he seemed ordinary, he knew he wasn't completely powerless. Somehow, entering Teyvat had gifted him with unique abilities, powers that even Lumine didn't seem to possess. He could feel energy coursing through his body, almost as if he could control the elements without a Vision.

As they walked together toward Mondstadt, Asher couldn't help but marvel at the people around him. Lumine was even more beautiful and courageous than he'd imagined, Amber's energy was infectious, and Paimon's antics, while irritating, were endearing.

But in the back of his mind, a thought lingered—a nagging suspicion. What if the theories were true? What if Paimon, who seemed so innocent, was hiding a darker secret? And if that were the case, what would it mean for Lumine…and for him?

As they crossed the Mondstadt gate, he felt a thrill at the journey that lay ahead. This wasn't just the game anymore. It was real, and he was determined to protect Lumine, unravel the mysteries, and, perhaps, find a way to confess the feelings he was already growing for her.